Prisoners Of The Ghostland (2021) - Movie Review

Yep, we’re still on the crazy train, and what’s more, we’re picking back up with the regular conductor of said train with another Nic Cage starring role. And I am once again in awe of him being able to find productions that fit perfectly into his extremely idiosyncratic wheelhouse. This film is the English-language debut of Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono and, far as I can ascertain, this is the first time Cage has worked on a mainly-Japanese production. But much like the film they have built around themselves, their act of cultural exchange makes perfect sense. After all, crazy surpasses any and all language barriers.

Batman Ninja (2018) - Movie Review

Through an encounter with a time travel built by a super-intelligent gorilla (because this is the world of comic books), Batman, his closest allies and his greatest foes are all transported to the days of feudal Japan. This is the kind of high-concept lunacy that makes for some of the best Elseworlds stories and, as Sony/Marvel would end up showing months after this film’s initial release, there’s a lot of room in the market for bonkers reimaginings of our favourite superheroes. And quite honestly, even if for pure geek-out value, this is most definitely one to check out.

Isle Of Dogs (2018) - Movie Review

The plot: After a plague of dog-flu spreads throughout Japan, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura) declares that all dogs will be sent into quarantine on Trash Island. Among those dogs is Spots (Live Schreiber), a guard dog charged with protecting Atari Kobayashi (Koyu Rankin), the mayor’s ward and nephew. Determined to get his beloved dog back, Atari makes his own way onto Trash Island where he encounters Chief (Bryan Cranston), Red (Edward Norton), King (Bob Balaban), Boss (Bill Murray) and Duke (Jeff Goldblum), a pack of alpha dogs who agree to help Atari find his lost pet and, hopefully, prevent further destruction.